Comprising New York State Certified teachers, 1-to-1 Tutoring focuses on academic improvement, confidence-building, and cultivating minds. By providing personalized attention and customized instruction, their tutors offer students a way to build on their own strengths and improve their learning styles. Instruction is tailored to meet individual needs.

“We work together with each student, along with his or her parents, to develop both short term and long term achievement goals,” said Darnell Ramsay, who recently launched 1-to-1 Tutoring with his brother, Jamel. “We also provide assessment and progress reports on a regular basis.” The brothers co-direct. Darnell also tutors math, while Jamel takes charge of the business end. A bit of background tells how 1-to-1 Tutoring came to be.

Darnell earned a degree in Finance from Clark Atlanta University. He originally planned to work on Wall Street but due to the economy and lack of jobs, he became a substitute teacher in both New York City and Long Island. Through this, he discovered a passion for education, and decided to continue his own, but in a different direction. Choosing St. John’s University for graduate school, he earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics.

He went on to work as a graduate assistant for GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). Based in Long Island City High School, the program provided students and parents with information about college, required courses, and financial aid. Darnell tutored students, taught college readiness classes, and helped students fill out college applications. He became inspired to start a tutoring company after working for this program.